At the ISSF World Championships, India's hopes for an Olympic quota in the men's 25m rapid fire pistol event were momentarily shattered when shooter Adarsh Singh narrowly missed his chance, settling scores on countback. The competitive event, held on Tuesday, witnessed Singh putting up a valiant effort, only to lose by the slimmest of margins.
Recording a score of 583 in the qualification round, Singh matched the prowess of Ukraine's Denys Kushnirov. However, the latter secured the sixth and final qualifying berth. The climax of the event ensued when Peeter Olesk from Estonia, shooting an identical 583, managed to seize the fourth and concluding Paris quota, surpassing Adarsh based on countback.
The fierce competition had more up for grabs, with the additional Olympic quotas being clinched by formidable shooting powerhouses – China, Japan, and Ukraine.
In the same event, India had other noteworthy contenders. Vijayveer Sidhu delivered a commendable performance, shooting 577 and subsequently securing the 25th position. Close on his heels, Anish Bhanwala recorded a score of 575, ending at the 32nd spot in the event's standings.
Despite the individual setbacks, India proudly occupies the third position in the overall medal tally, boasting four gold and three bronze medals. This feat positions India behind the leading nations, China and the USA.
Out of a vast ensemble of 101 nations competing at the championships, a total of 26 nations have celebrated podium finishes. India's achievements have not been modest, having bagged three coveted Paris Olympic quotas from this championship alone. With this, the nation's cumulative Olympic quota count rises to six.
Looking ahead, shooting enthusiasts are keenly awaiting the last two Olympic quota events: the men's and women's trap. Scheduled to commence on Wednesday, both finals will be fervently followed on Thursday, as nations vie for the ultimate honor in the sport.
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